The Supreme Court has upheld the $1.4 billion judgment against Alex Jones for his false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. Jones had appealed, arguing a trial should have been held to assess the allegations by the victims’ families; however, the justices did not comment on their order. Jones filed for bankruptcy and is also appealing a separate $49 million judgment in Texas. Currently, the liquidation of Infowars’ assets is underway, with efforts to sell off assets moving to a Texas state court.
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A federal judge dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group regarding Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” ruling the lyrics were opinion within the context of a rap battle. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas stated that the song’s accusations, though serious, would not be perceived as factual by a reasonable listener due to the heated and hyperbolic nature of the feud. The lawsuit, filed in January, alleged the track, which explicitly branded Drake as a pedophile, contained false and defamatory allegations, but the court sided with UMG, leading Drake’s legal team to announce plans to appeal the decision. The song, recognized for its success, was the culmination of a rap battle that included escalating personal insults.
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A judge has dismissed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s defamation lawsuit against blogger David Vickery due to insufficient evidence. The case stemmed from Vickery’s reporting on Kennedy’s appearance at an anti-lockdown rally in Berlin, which was attended by groups with neo-Nazi affiliations. The court found Kennedy’s team failed to refute the core premise of Vickery’s report and dismissed other claims as misrepresentations of events. The judge stated that the evidence did not support the claim that the blogger defamed Kennedy.
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The FBI cuts ties with the Anti-Defamation League, FBI director says. This news is certainly a significant development, and it’s sparked a lot of reactions, to say the least. It really does feel like a dramatic turn of events, especially considering the historical partnership between the two organizations. The question of why this happened is on everyone’s mind, and it seems like there’s a complex mix of factors at play.
It appears the situation has been brewing for a while, and the fallout from the ADL’s actions, particularly their handling of certain controversies, contributed to the shift. The ADL’s initial response to Elon Musk’s actions and the subsequent online commentary seems to have been a major sticking point.… Continue reading
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan ruled that MyPillow founder Mike Lindell defamed Smartmatic by making false claims that its voting machines rigged the 2020 presidential election. The judge, however, deferred the question of whether Lindell acted with “actual malice,” which is required for Smartmatic to collect damages. Lindell repeatedly stated in documentaries and media appearances that the machines were rigged, specifically in Los Angeles County where Smartmatic was used. Smartmatic is now seeking substantial damages from Lindell, as it aims to hold him accountable for spreading lies.
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Rudy Giuliani has reached a settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in its $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit, with both parties agreeing to dismiss the suit permanently. The terms of the settlement remain confidential, but the lawsuit stemmed from Giuliani’s false claims about Dominion’s role in rigging the 2020 election. The former New York City mayor faced legal challenges after leading former President Donald Trump’s efforts to discredit the election results. This settlement follows other significant agreements Dominion has reached with Fox News and Newsmax, and further compounds a series of legal and financial difficulties Giuliani has faced.
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Judge tosses Trump’s $15B defamation suit against New York Times, Penguin Random House, and the immediate reaction, honestly, is a breath of fresh air. It’s like watching a particularly tedious piece of homework get thrown in the trash – satisfying and a bit of a relief. The judge, Steven D. Merryday, wasted no time in calling out the suit for what it was: a mess. He bluntly stated it “stands unmistakably and inexcusably athwart the requirements” of legal procedure. The entire thing sounds like it was drafted by someone who skipped law school, and the judge essentially echoed that sentiment. It sounds like Trump’s complaint was a rambling, incoherent mess.… Continue reading
In a defamation suit against Candace Owens, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron plan to present photographic and scientific evidence to a US court to refute Owens’ claims that Brigitte Macron was born male. Their lawyer, Tom Clare, stated that the couple finds these allegations incredibly upsetting. The evidence, which will be presented in court, aims to definitively prove the falsity of the claims, despite the discomfort of doing so publicly. The Macrons’ suit, filed in the US, alleges Owens knowingly spread false information and disregarded credible evidence.
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During a speech at the Museum of the Bible, President Trump asserted that crime in Washington, D.C. was nearly eradicated due to the presence of federal troops, claiming the city was now a “totally safe zone.” He expressed frustration with the inclusion of domestic disturbances in crime statistics, suggesting these inflated the numbers. However, Trump’s statements are dubious, as D.C. was not the most dangerous city before his intervention and he has faced numerous allegations of abuse and has been convicted of crimes himself. Furthermore, a federal appeals court upheld an $83 million defamation judgment against him, adding to his legal issues.
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The federal appeals court upheld the $83 million defamation verdict against Donald Trump, rejecting his appeal. The court found that Trump failed to demonstrate grounds for reconsidering the previous holding on presidential immunity and that the district court’s rulings were appropriate. The appeals court also concluded that the jury’s damages awards were fair, and the punitive damages award was appropriate due to the reprehensibility of Trump’s conduct. This ruling leaves Trump responsible for the full amount of the judgment, which has increased since the initial verdict.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood